Button-machine



5 Sheets-Sheet 1. T.

Patented Aug. 13,1889.

A NdMoae f E. ELL

- TTON M N0. Ef

5 SheetsSheet 2.

(No Model.) W. E. ELLIOTT.

BUTTON MACHINE.

Patented Aug. 13, 1889.

5 Sheets-Shae]; a.

(No Model.)

W. E. ELLIOTT.

BUTTON MACHINE.

No. 408,700. Patented Aug. 13, 1889.

7 a'ga (No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 4.

W. E. ELLIOTT BUTTON MACHINE. V 7 No. 408,700.. A Patented Aug. 13, 1889.

To all whom it may concern.-

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFI E.

. I'VVILLIAME. ELLIOTT, OF MARION, IOWVA.

BUTTON-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 408,700, dated August 13, 1889. Application filed October 8, 1888. Serial No. 287,558. (No model.)

Be it known that I, WILLIAM E. ELLIOTT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Marion, in the county of Linn and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Button-Machines; and I 'do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same. 7

The object of my invention is to produce a machine capable of automatically connecting the shanks of buttons with fasteners.

The invention consists in the construction, combination, and arrangement of parts to this end, as hereinafter fully set forth and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, Figure 1, Sheet 1, represents a front elevation of a machine embodying my invention. Fig. 2, Sheet 2, is a side elevation of the same' Fig. 3, Sheet '3, is an elevation of the machine as seen from the side opposite to that shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 4, Sheet 4, is a longitudinal section of the machine in the line a b of Fig. 3 as seen from the left side of said Fig. 3. Fig. 5 isa plan view of the hopper for fasteners; and Fig. 6, a fragmentary view in longitudinal section of the fastener-discharging apparatus of v the hopper, showing the detail of its construction. Fig. '7, Sheet 5, is a horizontal sectional view of the machine below the line 0 d of Figs. 1 and 2; Fig. 8, a fragmentary horizontal sectional view of the table and connected parts below the line 6 f of the same figures; Fig.9, a transverse section of the lower part of the machine in the line of the center of the button-chute; Fig. 10, a fragmentary view of the button-chute leading to the machine, partly in section, showing the arrangement of a spring to check the descent of the buttons; Fig. 11, a fragmentary View of the bution-table from the under side, showing the construction and operation of the fastenerfeed; and Fig. 12, an .end view of the fastener-blade and its gate.

Similar figures of reference indicate corresponding parts.

The operative parts of the machine are mounted on a suitable standard 1, having a broad base 2, adapted to support the machine on a table or counter. In a bearing 3 near the upper extremity of the standard is mounted a'shaft 4:, which in the case of a hand-machine is turned by the crank 5. To this shaft is secured an eccentric 6, which imparts an oscillating motion to the pivoted arm -'7, the slotted end of which engages with said eccentric. The opposite end of said arm forms a partial gear meshing with the corresponding gear of a bell-crank lever S 9. The upper arm 8 at its slotted outer end engages by'a suitable traveler 10, mounted on the pin 11, with a blade 12, mounted to operate in the center of the hopper 13 in a manner to be hereinafter more particularly described. On the opposite end of the pin 11 is mounted a traveler 14, adapted to follow the guide 15, connecting with the hopper, and by its connection with the arm 16 of the standard 1 forming one of the'supports for said hopper. Another arm 17 connects with the opposite end of the hopper and serves for further support. This guide is bifurcated above its connection withthe arm 16, the two parts separated, the diameter of the traveler which runs between them running up parallel for a considerable distance, when the guide portion proper 15 describes anarc of a circle the center of which is near the upper end of a slot 18 in the other part of the guide-piece 19. A pin 20, projecting laterally from near one edge of the blade 12, runs in this slot and serves as an additional guide for said blade. The movement of this blade will be readily understood by reference to the dotted lines in Fig. 1, being vertical for the distance represented by the slot 18 and thence rotary to the limit of its stroke as carried upward by the arm 8.

Referring to Figs. 4, 5, and 6, the peculiar action of the blade will be more clearly seen. As it moves directly upward, the fasteners f in the hopper lodge upon its upper edge and depend therefrom until by the final inclination 'of said blade. they slide off by their own gravity upon a raceway 21, with the upper end of which the lower extremity of the inclined portion of the blade connects. This portion of the blade is thickened somewhat, so that the fasteners in sliding olf are righted and in suitable position to pass onto the raceway.

This thickening of the blade is carried I downward, so as to close the opening in the end of the hopper, and for the same reason this end ofv the blade is carried outwardly at an angle corresponding to that of the top of the blade in its final position. A gate 22, with an opening therein for the passage of fasteners, closes this opening in the hopper when the blade is down.

The raceway 21 is preferably made of three wires, (in the case of the peculiar staple-fastener represented,) the upper one forming a bearing for the neck of the staple and the others for the sides thereof. These wires are connected to a suitable bridge 23 and this to the slotted guide-piece 19. The inner ends of the wires should be flush with the corresponding outer edge of the blade 12, so that no space is left between them for fasteners to drop through. To allow the blade to tilt forward, a recess is formed in this edge near the top, as shown in Fig. 6, the upper end of the upper wire entering this as the blade tilts. The lower end of this raceway terminates a short distance from the under side of a fastener-chute 24, standing at a reverse angle from the raceway, so that as the fasteners descend the raceway their points first strike the chute, and are thereby guided into said chute. This position of the parts is also such as to insure the discharge of a single fastener without the interference of others, thus preventing any clogging at this point.

The ends of the hopper are parallel and vertical to correspond with the path of the blade to the point where it begins to rotate. To prevent the fasteners from getting behind the curved edge of the blade, however, when at its extreme upper position, the inner side of this end 25 adjacent to the blade should be carried inwardly somewhat toward the bottom, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5.

The lower portion of the chute 24 is curved upwardly, terminating in a horizontal part, and is suitably secured to a table 26. From the lower end of the chute to a point slightly beyond the edge of the table said chute is slotted on the under side, and a corresponding slot 27 in the table allows forthepassage of the pushpin 28 of a finger 29,pivotally connected with the arm 9. Referring to Figs. 8 and 11, it will be seen that this slot in the table curves at the lower terminus of the chute and returns part way at an angle to the main portion of the slot. A shoulder 30 on the table serves as a stop for one leg of the fastener as the other one is pushed through the shank of the button Z), so that as the push-pin follows its path the fastener is both forced through the button-shank and turned, as indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 8, until the shank of the button is in connection with the neck of the fastener and the latter is practically at a right angle to its position in its chute and adapted to be drawn out by the button when pushed forward by its feed. The finger 29 has necessarily a compound motion, and is therefore doubly jointed to its actuating-arm. A spring 31 tends to force the free end of the finger downwardly, as represented in Figs. 7 and 8, while a similar spring 32 forces the end of the finger up against the lower side of the table.

Under the table, and adjacent to the slot, is

a diagonal rib 33, which serves as a bearing for a lug 34 of the finger as carried back to its original position. On passing the end of this rib the end of the finger springs upwardly and the push-pin engages with another fastener. A groove 35 allows for the passage of the lug as the finger moves forward.

In a suitable arm of the table 36 is secured the button-chute 37. The lower portion of this chute is also curved and terminates in a horizontal part, as indicated in Fig. 0. For some distance back from the lower end the chute is cut away on the upper side to admit the button-holder 38 of the button-feed finger 39, hinged to the pivoted arm 40. The under side of this holder corresponds practically to the shape of the button, and its lower portion extends downward as far as the shank of the button, so as to drag the groove 41 in the tablc, in which said button-shank slides, and thus prevents any lodgment therein of fasteners or other matter, a suitable hole 42 being made in the table to allow anything of this nature to drop through. The button-chute connects directly with a curved section of button and fastener chute 43, permanently attached to the machine, and this is adapted to abut upon the chute All, which it is'the object of the machine to automatically fill, and which may be temporarily secured in a seat 45 by suitable set-screws or the like.

In all the views the machine is represented in the position for connecting the fasteners with the button-shanks. On the completion of this operation the button is pushed forward to the position indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 9, when the feed returns to its position for engaging a new button, as also indicated in the same figure. In moving back the neck of the button-holder rests upon the upper edge of a pivoted cam 46, under the lower end of which it passes in i s forward movement. This end of the cam is made heavier than the other, so that in its normal position it rests by its own gravity upon the rib 5 .7. The holder on reaching the other end of the cam drops by its own weight therefrom, cutting out a button from the row of them in the chute, as indicated. A lug 49, engaging with a corresponding lug if) on the standard 50, prevents the cam from tilting too far, and

the holder is thus guided to the proper point for catching a new button. The lower but.- ton in the chute is held at the right point by a light lateral spring 5] Fig. 10. To compensate for any variation in the size of the buttons, the finger of the holder is slotted at its connection with the actuating-arm 40, and a spring 52 tends to press it forward and downward upon the button.

T o insure the proper position of the buttonshank regardless of the size of the button, a

detent 53 is pivoted to the table and held in its normal position across the path of the button bya spring 54, which should be somewhat stronger than the spring 52, above referred to. This detent is bifurcated, as shown in Fig. 1,- the upper arm 55 serving as a lever, whereby it is turned as pushed forward by the finger 56, also connected to the arm 40. The spring 52 serves also to aid in holding the lower end of this finger down upon its seat-a ledge 57 of the rib 47between which and the table the detent moves. The detent is provided with a notch 58 to retain the shank of the button.

To a suitable arm of the standard 1 is pivoted the arm 40, which is provided with a traveler 59, adapted to follow the serpentine course of the groove in the cam 60, mounted on the shaft 4. By reference to Fig. 3 it will be seen that for a considerable distance the groove follows a direct course in the plane of the shafts revolution, so that the arm 40 remains for some time stationary. This, as will be seen, is its mediate position, in which the button is held in the proper place for the insertion of the fastener. At the completion'of this operation the traveler enters the serpentine path of the groove, and the button is pushed forward by its feed, the' fastener-feed at the same time retracting to a position for engaging another fastener.

Having thus described my invention,what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In abutton-machine of the class specified, the combination of the tilting blade thicken ed on-the' side from which the fasteners escape for the purpose of righting them, and having a recess therein to receive the upper end of an abutting raceway, and a raceway, theupper end of which extends practically to the adjacent end of the blade in its vertical movement and enters the recess therein when tilted, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In abutton-maohine of the class specified, the combination of the hopper 13, blade 12, and gate 22, having an aperture therein for the escape of fasteners, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In abutton-machine of the class specified, the combination of the fastener-chute 24, hav- .ing a slot in its under side to receive the push-pin of a feed-finger, the table 26, having slot 27 and cam 33, and the reciprocating feedfinger 29, having push-pin 28, and the lug 34, whereby the fastener is fed through the shank of a button and turn ed partly around and the feed-finger returned to its normal position in a different path, substantially as set forth.

4. Inabutton-m achine of the class specified, the combination of a chute adapted to convey fasteners to a position for insertion :in the shanks of buttons, a feed-finger, substantially as described, adapted to engage a fastener and feed it to said position, a table upon which said fasteners restas fed forward, said table and turned partially around, as specified.

5. In a button-machine of the class specified, the doubly-jointed feed-finger 29, provided with springs 31 and 32, in combination with the table 26, having slot 27 and cam 33, substantially as described.

6. In a button-machine of the class specified, the combination of a chute adapted to convey buttons to a position for inserting fasteners in their shanks, a button-holder connected with a reciprocating arm and adapted to cut out and carry forward a single button from a row in said chute. and hold the same in position while the fastener is inserted in its shank, and a cam adapted to tilt and allow the holder to pass under it in pushing the connected button and fasteners from the machine and to carry said holder over it in returning for a new button, substantially as described.

7. In a machine of the class specified, the combination of a button-chute in which buttons are conveyed to a point for insertion of fasteners, a feed-finger having a button-h older thereon connected with a reciprocating arm, a detent adapted to serve as a stop for the shank of thebutton in its forward movement, and a supplemental finger Connected with said reciprocating arm adapted to pushsaid detent forward in advance of thebutton after the fastener is connected therewith, substantially as set forth.

8. In a machine of the class specified, the combination of a reciprocating arm, a buttonfeed finger having a slotted connection therewith, whereby said finger is adapted to yield somewhat according to the size of the button, and a spring adapted to press the buttonholder of said feed upon the button, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

9. In a button-machine of the class specified, the combination, with feed mechanism, substantially as described, of a button-chute having a lateral spring near its lower end to retain the lower button, said chute being open on its upper side from a point slightly above said lower button to its lower end to admit the button-holder of said feed, substantially as set forth.

10.- In a button-machine of the class specified, the combination, with the table 26, having the groove 41, of a button-holder 38, having a narrow portion entering and adapted to drag said slot to clear the same, substantially as described.

11. In a button-machine of the class specified, the combination of the slotted feed-finger 39, spring 52, detent 53, finger 56, and spring 54, substantially as and for the pur-' pose set forth.

- 12. In a button-machine of the class specified, the combination, with aetuatin g mechanism, substantially as described, of the fastener-catching blade 12, bell-crank lever 8 9, and finger 2f), doubly jointed thereto, substautially as and for the purpose set forth.

13. In a button-machine of the class specified, the combination, with feed mechanism, substantially as described, of the oscillating arm 7, eccentric 6, mounted on shaft 4, oscillating arm l0, having traveler 59, and cam (30, mounted on said shaft, all substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

1%. In a button-machine of the class specified, the combination, with a hopper for fasteners, substantially as described, of a fast- 

